TERMS & CONDITIONS
Buyers agree that by entering a bid they have inspected the property, are satisfied with the condition of the property, they are entering into a contract to purchase the property and they agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
1) Condition of Property Sold: Items we sell are in various states of condition ranging from new-in-box (NIB) to used, others are antiques and are over 100 years old, and some are even antiquities dating back over a millennia. All information provided, including but not limited to, the title, description, condition and the photographs should be considered as an opinion, and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The Buyer acknowledges they and only they are solely responsible for inspections prior to bidding. The Buyer also acknowledges there is a live In-Person Auction Preview open to the public prior to the auction's closing to which they are invited to participate in. While multiple photos may be given for the auctioned items, the photos should not be considered a replacement for attending the In-Person Auction Preview before bidding. Lighting, camera settings, devices settings used for viewing are just a few things that do impact the presentation of lots being sold and will cause the items to appear different on nearly all machines. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free of defects, imperfections, restoration, wear and tear, or the effects of aging. The auction firm and staff shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. All items sell in "as-is, where-is" condition. ALL SALES ARE FINAL; THERE ARE NO RETURNS, REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES.
2) Estimates: The estimates provided are intended as a guide to bidding. The figures are educated guesses, based on recent realized values and our experience. The estimates are exclusive of the buyer’s premium and maybe revised anytime prior to the auction ending.
3) Reserves: Unless explicitly stated as an absolute auction, the Owner and/or Auction Firm has the right to accept or reject all bids, including the high bid. A reserve is a confidential minimum price below which the lot will not be sold. If an Estimate is provided, the reserve will not be above the low end of the Estimate range and will not be below half of the low Estimate. The Auction Firm may implement such a reserve by opening the bidding on behalf of the seller and may bid up to the amount of the reserve by placing successive or consecutive bids for a lot in response to the other bidders.
4) Absentee Bidding: The Auction Firm will execute bids on behalf of the bidder in competition with other absentee bids and other bids in the auction. Every effort will be made to carry out the bidder’s instructions, but the Auction Firm is in no event responsible for failing to carry out the instructions. The Auction Firm reserves the right to decline to undertake such bids.
5) Buyer’s Premium: All accepted high bids will have a 15.55% Buyers Premium added to the high bid, plus all applicable sales taxes. There are no additional charges for payments via credit card.
6) Taxes: The State of Illinois is an origination tax state. All taxes are collected at the sale point of origin. As such, the buyer's location does not determine the tax exempt status. We follow the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation FAQ when determining tax collection. For auctions at our headquarters the sales tax rate is 7.50%. Illinois Form CRT-61, Certificate of Resale, also known as tax exempt forms, must be filled out annually and presented at the time of registration in order to be honored for this auction. Along with the CRT-61 please provide proof of tax exemption via email to the Auction House.
7) Payment: The Buyer agrees to provide their name, a valid email address, a current mailing address, and a working telephone number prior to bidding. Additionally, the Buyer agrees that all invoices will automatically be charged at the conclusion of the auction via the credit card used for registration via the HiBid platform, unless previous arrangements are made. Non Payers understand they will be reported to the bidding platform and this may negatively impact their ability to bid in the future. Additional invoices, such as for prolonged storage, shipping, postage, handling, and materials, may be incurred after the close of the auction and will be charged to the same card that was used for the auction.
8) Abandon Goods: If no specific arrangements are made with the Auction Firm before bidding, the Buyer agrees that Items not picked up during the In-Person Pick Up or arranged to be shipped are to be donated. Donated goods may be resold with the proceeds being donated to either the Humane Society of Monroe or the Morrison-Talbott Library, or disposed of. If the Buyer does not pay for shipping within 7 days of receiving the initial Shipping Invoice, goods will be considered donated as listed above.
9) (a) The Buyer’s sole remedy will be the rescission of the sale and refund of the original purchase price for the item, and that this remedy shall be exclusive and in lieu of any other remedy which might otherwise be available to the buyer as a matter of law. This statement in no-way suggests the Auction Firm offers partial refunds for “not as described” opinions, please refer to the 1) Condition of Property Sold.
(b) In the event that a buyer claims that an item is not authentic, the Auction Firm will have no obligation to rescind the sale unless the buyer has obtained, at the buyer’s expense, the opinion of two recognized experts in the field, who are mutually agreeable to the Auction Firm and the buyer, that the lot is not authentic.
10) Shipping: The Auction Firm will provide shipping for many items. Shipping will normally occur 2-5 days following the Auction Close. Shipping will be via a major provider such as the U.S. Post Office, FedEx, or UPS. Unless specific instructions are received, the Auction Firm will be the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. The Auction Firm will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from packing, handling and shipping.
11) Shipping & Handling (S&H) Charges: S&H charges are separate from the Purchase Invoice and do not negate the Buyer from the obligation to pay the Purchase Invoice in full. S&H Charges may include handling, materials, insurance, authorized signature fees, shipping costs and other shipping related fees. The Buyer will be charged a separate S&H Invoice to be paid prior to Shipping. Note we will try to ship via the most economical method possible. Handling charges typically run from $6.95 for small packages and increase as poundage and size increases. Be aware there are many factors that can cause the cost to go beyond these typical ranges, for instance fragile items, art, glass, heavy items, items that require special packaging, etc.
12) Technology Disruptions: Technology disruptions happen and are part of online life. Should there be a disruption the auction company reserves the right to suspend, cancel, restart, any and all lots.
13) Late Bidding Risks: You are forewarned, waiting to bid in the last two minutes of an auction can cause situations where you miss out on your items. Nearly all of the feedback we receive about missing out on a lot are from bidders who waited until the last 90 seconds and through no fault of our own, missed out on the item. Don't risk it, don't fall into that category.